Application in public administrations.

 




Integrity training plays an important role in addressing the demand side of bribery. Therefore, providing sufficient information, training, guidance, and timely advice for public officials to apply public integrity standards in the workplace is one of the core principles of the OECD Recommendation on Public Integrity. Such trainings typically aim at helping public officials recognize integrity issues when they arise and equip them with the knowledge and skills to manage them appropriately. They also help cultivate their commitment to carrying out public duties in the public interest. The OECD has four specific recommendations on how these efforts should be conducted:

• Providing public officials throughout their careers with clear and up-to-date information about the organization’s policies, rules and administrative procedures relevant to maintaining high standards of public integrity;


• Offering induction and on-the-job integrity training to public officials throughout their careers in order to raise awareness and develop essential skills for the analysis of ethical dilemmas, and to make public integrity standards applicable and meaningful in their own personal contexts;

• Providing easily accessible formal and informal guidance and consultation mechanisms to help public officials apply public integrity standards in their daily work as well as to manage conflict-of interest situations.

• Supporting officials in management positions in their role as ethical leaders by helping them develop appropriate judgement skills for situations involving public integrity risks through periodic training and guidance.

While the exact contents of related trainings depend on the specific context in a country, the OECD recommends including, at a minimum, module on integrity, administrative procedures (e.g. public procurement), rules and values, transparency and accountability instruments and measures/controls to manage integrity risks. Raising awareness on potential conflicts of interest and dilemmas involving GEH (gifts, entertainment & hospitality) is also important. The OECD itself leads by example on this by requiring every new staff member to sign the organization’s code of conduct before their appointment. New officials then need to complete an online training that tests their understanding of these ethical values within three months of their arriva

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